BLACK smoke and 20-foot high flames could be seen in Chickerell after a fire broke out in an outbuilding.

Firefighters and police attended the blaze near to the junction of the B3157 by Chickerell Army Camp on Friday afternoon.

Smoke covered the road and the flames spread to a nearby tree and hedge.

Police directed traffic to allow access for the fire service to work and motorists were delayed.

Firefighters cordoned off an area around the building due to concerns that there could be gas cylinders inside.

Witnesses described seeing flames as high as 20 feet and black smoke billowing from the blaze.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said: “I was sitting upstairs in my office when I saw the flames and black smoke.

“The flames were at least 20 feet high.

“There was a huge amount of thick smoke all over the road and I heard a few loud bangs.”

Another added: “When we came home the hedge and tree were all on fire.

“There was a lot of black smoke coming out and flames rising up.

“The smoke was coming right over the house.

“One of the trees was well alight and the flames were really quite high.”

Firefighters from Weymouth and Portland were called to the blaze just after lunchtime yesterday.

The cause of the fire is thought to have been accidental and caused by a wood burner.

The building and its contents, including a caravan, were destroyed in the fire.

* A spokesman for Dorset Fire and Rescue Service said: “Two fire engines from Weymouth and one from Portland were called to Chickerell Road at 2.15pm.

“Initially one crew attended and the other crews were called because there was a lot of smoke in the area.

“An outbuilding was on fire – the building and its contents were fully involved in the fire.”